Media Monitoring Experts of the Media Monitoring Unit for the Electoral Environment -European Center for Electoral Support (ECES), Ethiopia

• Reports to: ECES representative in Ethiopia
• Duration: 12 moths

Organizational Context

ECES is a not-for-profit private foundation headquartered in Brussels with a global remit. ECES promotes sustainable democratic development through the provision of advisory services, operational support and management of large projects in the electoral and democracy assistance field. ECES works with all electoral stakeholders, including electoral management bodies, civil society organisations involved in voter education and election observation, political parties, parliaments, media, security forces, religious groups and legal institutions confronted with electoral disputes resolution.

Since February 2012, ECES has signed over 70 contracts in support of transparent, credible and cost-effective electoral processes and the strengthening of democratic institutions in more than 35 countries mainly, but not only, in Africa and Middle East. In addition to that, the founders and personnel of ECES have acquired extensive field experience and, taken together, ECES can count on a specific knowledge and a well-established network in over 70 countries around the world. The EU is by far the largest ECES’ donor, however the organization has also signed contracts and partnered with many other organisations.

Project’s context

Actions in support of democratisation and respect for human rights, including the right to participate in the establishment of governments through free and fair elections, can make a major contribution to peace, security, prosperity, and well-being of people. In that regard, the EURECS I project was implemented in Ethiopia from 2019 until March 2024, with the funding from The EU in Ethiopia and Germany.

The EURECS was crafted as an innovative and alternative delivery mechanism to implement electoral and democracy assistance activities that are consistent with the EU’s values and policies, and targets to facilitate the implementations of the recommendations of the EU election observation mission (EOM) in Ethiopia that national authorities agree to strife towards. The action has a built-in election conflict prevention, mitigation, and management aim in near-all activities prescribed by this approach.

Recognizing the high expectations of the 7th general elections of 2026 for the consolidation of a well-functioning democracy in the country, the EURECS II project seeks to contribute by strengthening the transparency, credibility, and public confidence in the election process and in the NEBE, as well as in the capacity of the civil society to be a major and credible actor in the electoral process. The project will support NEBE in fostering the inclusion of all segments of the electorate, including marginalised and vulnerable groups. In continuation of past efforts, the project will also strengthen the CECOE platform and other CSOs in electoral observation, civic and voter education and awareness-raising targeted at disenfranchised groups including youth and first-time voters.

• The EURECS II project in Ethiopia is built around the three main specific objectives as follows:
• Empower NEBE to hold all levels of elections and implement lessons learned from 2021 for the 7th General Election in 2026;
• Strengthen CSOs in their election observation and support them extend it to mid-cycle elections, (municipal, referendum and reruns) as well as voter and candidate registration
• Support civic and voter information to vulnerable groups including IDPs, PWDs, the illiterate, women candidates, youth and first-time voters.
• Functions / Key Results Expected
• CECOE and ECES will establish a Media Monitoring Unit within CECOE , to be staffed by a Head of MMU and 9 additional Media Monitors .The Media monitoring team will cover all regions of Ethiopia . Media monitoring experts will establish and strengthen CECOE Media monitoring methodology regards to the different types of media( Radio ,television , print/online)

The objective of the unit:

• Support CECOE internal and external communication as well as its visibility , to improve its functioning and outreach activities through monitoring media coverage of CECOE.
• collate Media reports on weekly/monthly basis ,based on qualitative and quantitative analyses of reporting from selected Media outlets. The monitoring will help enrich CECOE communication strategies and respond in real time
• Measure the the impact of the voter education campaign on media and inform CECOE of findings in a timely manner
• Monitor the media in all the phases of the electoral process , voter registration candidate registration electoral campaign , the respect of silence period , election day , announcement of the results at all levels and the complaints process for all the stages .

Position Overview

• CECOE is seeking Media Monitors to track and assess television, radio, and digital media coverage on the upcoming 2026 national elections. Monitors will document trends, evaluate fairness and accuracy, assess access for political contestants, and track the portrayal of electoral stakeholders. This is a hands-on role in a dynamic, multi-lingual, and fast-paced election environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Monitor, quantitatively and/or qualitatively, and analyse daily, the different national/regional media (television, radio, print, online), according to the methodology developed
• Apply a similar pattern to the monitoring of social media, including Facebook, YouTube, TikTok, etc.
• Participate in methodology review sessions
• Ensure, within established deadlines, the entry of media monitoring data and information into the proposed software
• Track coverage of political actors, parties, voter education, and election-related events.
• Record quantitative and qualitative data.
• Prepare daily logs and weekly summaries for analysis.
• Translate different communications material, in addition to monitoring, in the given language
• Work collaboratively across regions and languages, reporting to the MMU Supervisor.
• Perform any other duty necessary to the fulfilment of media monitoring objective

Required Skills & Competencies

• Strong analytical and research skills, with attention to detail.
• Good knowledge of the Ethiopian media and political landscape (to be checked during the interview)
• Knowledge of media ethics, bias analysis, and social media monitoring tools..
• Ability to work under the constraints of deadlines
• Open-minded and willing to be adaptable and flexible in dealing with colleagues
• Demonstrated computer skills (MS-Office: Windows, Word, Excel); experience in audio/video editing software and ability to use new media monitoring database systems would be appreciated
• Ability to work under tight deadlines, handle sensitive information, and maintain impartiality.
• Excellent communication, teamwork, and time-management skills

VALUES

• Promotes the vision, mission and strategic goals of ECES;
• Displays cultural, gender, religion, race, nationality and age sensitivity and adaptability;
• Demonstrates integrity by modelling ECES’ values and ethical standards.

Qualifications

Education:

• University degree or advanced training in Social sciences political sciences communication sciences journalism or equivalent , previous training on Media Monitoring is an asset

Experience:

• Experience: at least 3 years with media (monitoring, reporting, broadcasting) or a relevant field. Proof of experience is required
• Previous experience with the Civil society is an asset

Language Requirements:

• Excellent written and oral expression skills, both in English and Amharic; and at least one additional Ethiopian language: Tigrigna, Afaan Oromo, Afar, Somali, Gumuz, Nuer/Anywaa (Anuak), Harari, or Sidama. Knowledge of multiple languages is a plus